Making heating and cooling for European consumers efficient, economically resilient, clean and climate-friendly

Project Information

REPLACE

Grant agreement ID: 847087

DOI

10.3030/847087

Project closed

EC signature date 10 September 2019

Start date 1 November 2019

End date 30 April 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 1 999 878,75

EU contribution

€ 1 999 878,75

Coordinated by

ÖSTERREICHISCHE ENERGIEAGENTUR - AUSTRIAN ENERGY AGENCY
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - REPLACE (Making heating and cooling for European consumers efficient, economically resilient, clean and climate-friendly)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2023-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

With heating and cooling comprising roughly 50 % of the final European energy consumption, permanently reducing consumption and increasing the share of renewables in this sector is paramount for a successful Energy Union.
The main overall objective was to implement targeted campaigns in nine target regions in eight European countries to make heating and cooling (HC) for European consumers efficient, economically resilient and climate-friendly. Building on the outcomes and lessons learned from previous projects and on the consortiums strength and experience in involving various stakeholders, REPLACE acted locally to effectuate actual changes. All activities of REPLACE aimed to inform and motivate consumers to replace their old and inefficient HC appliances with better, greener alternatives with the benefit of monetary savings and improvements in air-quality, comfort, safety, and security of supply.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In order to lay the groundwork for further project activities, the first step was an analysis of market conditions and the legal and regulatory framework for the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector in Work Package 2. On this basis, main drivers, barriers and examples of good practice were identified, respective to each target region.
In Work Package 3 the project partners analysed the socio-economic motives and mind-sets of key stakeholders, as well as their perceptions, attitudes and interests. In this regard, analyses related to each end consumers, intermediaries and investors, were developed for each target region. In order to prepare regional inventories, a statistical study of the heating systems market in all ten partner regions was conducted to identify a realistic activation potential for replacement activities to be reached by REPLACE.
The Activities carried out within Work Package 4 aimed at developing and providing instruments that will facilitate end users and other stakeholders to take informed boiler or oven replacement decisions. The following instruments have been prepared:

- An assessment matrix to determine the most suitable renewable heating system for a building, depending on its energy consumption level and building type and local conditions
- A practical guide (available in 9 languages) to end-users who are considering replacing their heating system, including concise factsheets, which present the renewable HC technologies currently available.
- A handbook (available in 9 languages) for intermediaries and investors, providing information on innovative business models, financing issues, best practice examples and model contracts, including technology factsheets with planning guidance information.
- A catalogue of 38 best practice examples of boiler and oven replacement projects and innovative approaches of replacement measures already implemented

At the same time, the online tool named “REPLACE your Heating System Calculator” was developed with the purpose to calculate the benefits and costs of real-life replacement projects without in-depth knowledge, user-friendly with only a few steps.
Work Package 5 aimed at preparing the ground for regional replacement campaigns, by multi-dimensional enabling activities.
In order to be able to develop region-specific measures, a total of 9 Local Working Groups (LWG) were formed, one for each target region. These LWG comprised of representatives from municipalities, installers, manufacturing industry and other important stakeholders to achieve the REPLACE goals. Regular LWG meetings were organised in order to discuss and agree on the preparation and implementation of the campaigns. On that basis an adequate implementation strategy was elaborated for each target region.
WP6 was dedicated to the implementation of replacement campaigns, which encompassed activities aimed at informing consumers about sustainable heating solutions and motivating them to replace their fossil-fueled or inefficient heating systems. In collaboration with the LWG REPLACE developed tailor-made boiler and oven replacement campaigns that have been rolled-out starting in the heating season 2021 to March 2023. Due to different local conditions, REPLACE together with the LWG provided a communication framework and a toolbox of a wide set of online and offline actions targeted to their needs, pursuing policy and business-related improvements.
The replacement campaigns involved a range of activities that were successfully carried out, resulting in increased awareness of sustainable energy options and a higher adoption rate of renewable heating systems. The campaigns included a wide mix of activities, such as the implementation of 10 webinars for local heating market actors with 300 participants, the organisation of open house events for best practice examples, and also regional field trips to good examples of sustainable heating systems were implemented, with a total of about 250 participants.
Furthermore, municipal information hubs were set up in the pilot regions to provide the public with access to a range of useful resources. In total, 32 information centres were set up in all pilot regions, which were used by around 10,000 visitors throughout the project period. The project participated in a total of seven fairs and festivals and was able to reach around 4,500 consumers there.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Boiler and oven replacement campaigns were implemented in each of the nine target regions to promote the phase-out of fossil fuels in the heating market. In addition, the project developed several tools to help households make informed decisions about which renewable heating system is best for their home. This form of support was not previously available in the Eastern European partner countries and was made possible for the first time through REPLACE.
Through its extensive campaigns, REPLACE has managed to reach a wide range of stakeholders and consumers, both in the pilot regions and beyond. The project's goals were ambitious and despite various challenges such as the pandemic and the energy crisis, the project has managed to exceed many of them. This is mainly due to the focus of the work on the local level of the pilot regions. Through close cooperation with the Local Working Groups and the implementation of various campaign activities, taking into account the national and regional framework conditions, it was possible to make a relevant contribution to advancing the phase-out of fossil fuels in the European heating sector.
The more ambitious activities – to mention some - included the establishment of a boiler replacement one-stop-shop (AT), the building of 10 biomass district heating networks (+ re-densification of 3 existing ones (DE), the organisation of a joint heat pump purchase action, where 147 replacements of oil and gas boilers in households were accomplished, while 50 were targeted (SL), the establishment of a subsidy program where several MW of residential oil and coal boilers have been replaced by local biomass fuelled, modern boilers – in addition, two local biomass logistics hubs are currently being developed (ES).
The following overview presents some of the key performance indicators achieved by the project by project end:
- 3,500,000 consumers reached through campaigns
- 17,650 t CO2 emissions reduced yearly
- 17,200,000 € investments in sustainable energy triggered
- 244 GWh/a renewable final energy production triggered
- 15,000 users of the Heating Matrices
- 9,500 users of the REPLACE Calculator

Logos of all partners of the REPLACE project

Overview of involved target regions of the REPLACE project